Boseneiler quits mayor's race

ROCK FALLS – Local businessman Allen Boseneiler said Wednesday that he is dropping out of the mayoral race and instead will support City Clerk Bill Wescott, who is challenging incumbent Mayor David Blanton.

Boseneiler said he decided to run to bring attention to issues he considers important, especially what he saw as the city's attempt to move state agencies from Sterling to Rock Falls.

He also organized a petition drive to ask voters whether Rock Falls should borrow $7.3 million to develop the riverfront, but he failed to get enough signatures to qualify a referendum.

He called the riverfront project “ill-advised” and said it could have bankrupted the city.

Boseneiler said the only way his views would get attention was if he ran for mayor.

In mid-January, the Rock Falls Board of Elections disqualified Boseneiler from the April 9 ballot because he had outstanding city fines at the time he filed his candidacy. He appealed that decision in Whiteside County court.

That appeal was denied, so he decided to end his write-in campaign, and now he's supporting Wescott "100 percent," Boseneiler said. "I hope very much that he is elected."

Wescott said he was "thankful" for the endorsement. Blanton was out of the office Wednesday and unavailable to comment.